Control-pedal for automobiles.



A. L. MQMURTRY.

CONTROL PEDAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-4, 1913. I 1,106,466. Patented Aug. 11,191 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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4 nrromvsr A. L. MCMURTRY.

CONTROL PEDAL FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1913.

Lm m Mm d f n ITNESSES ATTORNEY ALDEN L. monun'rlw, or scum) canon, coNnEc'ncU'r.

Omit-PEDAL FOB AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1914.

Application and January 4, 1am, Serial n. 740,109.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALDEN L. MCMURTRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sound Beach, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented cer' tain new and useful Improvements in Control-Pedals for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, reference-being had to the drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to apparatus for starting and controlling internal combustion engines and it has special reierence to apparatus of this kind which is adapted for automobiles and embodies a self starter for the engine.

The object of my invention is to provide a single device such for example as a pedal and connections with the controller of a self starter and with parts of an engine and its accessories so that by the movements of the single device the various parts with which it is connected may be actuated or controlled.

More specifically its object is to provide a pedal by means of which the controller of a self starter may be actuated and by means of which the proper adjustment of the throttle and the ignition circuits is insured and a primer for the engines manifold is actuated, and which also embodies -means for' preventing meddlers from actuating the signal horn or the starting controller itself when the machine is at rest.

Other objects of my invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will describe my invention in the following specification and point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a;

diagrammatic side elevation of a mechanism which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale 01 the starting controller of Fig. 1, the board on which it is supported being broken away and shown in section. Fig. 3 shows one of the parts of the controller separated from the other parts and Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively. back and front elevations of the device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on a larger scale of an auxiliary control switch for governing the horn circuit.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

10 desi hates the dash board of an automobile, sown in edge view. On this is mounted an ignition control switch 12, and a starting control pedal 70. Self starters for internal combustion engines are well I known and as they form no part of my'present invention they are not illustrated. But those in common use depend upon the use of a, supply of energy, either electricity or fluid pressure.

In Fig. 1, designates a switch or control valve for governing the supply of energy to such a starter. This may be mounted on the back of; the dash board as shown, or in any suitable position. is a switch for short circuiting the ignition device when it is desired to stop the engine. is a magneto Which comprises the usual distributer, the adjustment of which is accomplished by moving a lever 52, and forms a part of the mechanism in the usual way. designates a nanifold or engine, intake, 61 being the throttle valve and 62 the lever by which the throttle is adjusted.

The ignition control switch 12 has a lever 13 by which its position may be adjusted manually in the usual manner, but I have provided an actuating rod 14 which is fully shown and described in my co-pending ap- )lication Serial No. 722,847 filed September 8, 1912. This actuating rod extends through the dash board 10 and is connected to a bell crank lever 15 pivoted at 16 on the back of the dash board. Another bell crank lever 17 is pivoted at 18 with one of its arms opcratively connected to the bell crank lever 15 by a rod 19 and its other arm connected,

as hereinaft ful y pointed out, to the starting controller 70.

The rod 19 extends downwardly beyond i the bell crank lever 17 and is connected with a lever 31 of the self starter controller and is also connected with a third bell crank lever 20 which is pivoted at 21 and is connected by a rod 22 with a slidable block 23. In this block are two longitudinal holes. Through one of these holes extends a rod 24 from the adjusting lever 62 ot' the throttle. A pin 25 projects from the rod 24 through a slot 26 in the block 23 parallel with the hole through which the rod 24 extends.

27 is a rod by means of which the usual manual control of the throttle is effected. The rod 24 extends through a lug on the end of this control rod and a compression spring 28 is interposed between this lug and a collar 29 near the end of the rod 24. A rod 33 is connected with the lever 52 of the magneto and extends through the other hole in the pression spring 38 which corresponds to the spring 28.

A priming pump 90 is adapted to force a small quantity of gasolene or other fuel into the engine manifold (30 and comprises an actuating rod 91 which is connected at one end to the bell crank lever 17. The pump has a supply pipe 92 in which is a check-valve 93 and is connected to the source of fuel supply, and an outlet pipe 94 which is connected to the manifold and is provided with a check valve 95. The pump 90 is small and is only intended to supply a small quantity of fuel to the manifold for the purpose of making it easy to start the engine.

The starting controller comprises, a body or casing 71 having a flange or face plate 72 by which it is secured to the dash board 10, a lock 73, and a plunger 74. The body 71 has a cylindrical opening 75 in which the plunger 7 4 operates. The plunger is hollow through the greater part of its length and an actuating spring 76 is located within it. This spring acts against a cap 77 on the front end, which constitutes an actuating pedal for the starting controller. The opposite end of the spring acts upon a washer 78 which rests against a shoulder 79 on the inside of the plunger except when the plunger is forced inwardly. A stationary pin 80 is secured to the body 71 and extends through a longitudinal slot 81 in the plunger the arrangement of parts being such that the pin travels in the slot when the plunger is actuated. As soon as the plunger is pushed in sufficiently to bring the washer 78 into contact with the pin 80 any further inward movement of the plunger serves to compress the spring 76 and is consequently opposed by the spring.

The plunger is adapted to occupy three positions. One in which the spring 76'is compressed and the plunger is held in, with the cap close to the face plate 72. This is the engine starting position of the controller. When the plunger is released it is forced outwardly by the s ring until an accentuating latch 87 drops into a shallow recess 88 in the plunger. This is the engine running position of the controller. If it is desired to stop the motor, the plunger may be still farther pulled out of teh casing when the latch 87 drops into another recess 89 in the plunger. Then if it is desired to lock the controller, the plunger is turned through a small angle, an offset 81 of the slot being provided to make this possible. When this 1S done, the bolt or latch of the lock 73 enters a hole 86 in'the plunger. The lock sets automatically and so prevents further movement of the plunger until it is released by means of a key inserted in the slot 73*.

The turning movement of the plunger above referred to, is opposed by a spring pressed pin 100 (see Fig. 4) which slides in a guide or cylinder 101 and is backed by a spring 102. It acts against a transverse projection 103 of the plunger. Its outward movement is limited by a transverse pin 104 which works in a longitudinal slot 105 in the cylinder 101. As a final outward movement is imparted to the plunger a push botton switch 110 is actuated to interrupt the horn circuit which it is adapted to complete.

This switch may be constructed in any suitable manner to complete its circuit when released. As shown in Fig. 6 it comprises a socket 111, a push button 112 having a shank 113, and contact terminals 114 which are secured to but insulated from the'walls of' the socket.

At their inner ends they are spaced one on each side of the shank 113 and are bridged by a head or enlargement 115 near the end of the shank. A spring 116 is interposed between a washer 117 and the push button, the washer being supported in the socket against a transverse stoppin 118.

The upper arm of the bell crank lever 17 is connected by a link 17 with the inner end of the plunger 74. It extends upward beyond its point of connection and is so arranged that when the controller occupies its stop position its upper end closes the switch 10 and thereby short circuitsthe ignition device.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When the operator pushes in the plunger 74, which is usually accomplished by exerting pressure with his foot against the pedal 77, the bell crank lever 17 is turned on its pivot 18. This movement of the bell crank lever 17 produces a like movement of the bell crank levers 15 and 20 so that the rod 14 is moved to the right and the block 23 is moved to the left in Fig. 1.

If the throttle valve 61 and the distributer occupy the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1, this movement of the block 23 has no effect upon them because of the lost motion connection established between the block and the rods 24 and 33. On the other hand if the throttle is closed, or if the distributer is advanced, instead of retarded as shown, the block will transmit movement to the rods 24: and 33 and the throttle valve and distributer will be moved into the positions in which they are shown. This movement may have no efi'ect upon the rods 27 and 37, and if these rods are locked the springs 28 and 38 will be compressed. The movement of the rod 14 adjusts the switch 12 into its battery position and consequently as far as the ignition and the throttle valve are concerned the apparatus is in condition for starting the engine. .The lever 31 of the controller 30 of the self starter is at the same time adjusted to bring the starter into action. The description of the operation of the system apart from the pedal corresponds to that of my co-pending application to which reference has already been made.

In addition to these functions the bell crank lever 17 as already described operates the pump 90 and primes the manifold with fuel, making it particularly easy to start' the engine. As previously pointed out it is necessary for the operator to maintain (pressure on the pedal 77 in order to hpl starting controller in its starting position.

\Vhen the engine has started the o erator merely removes his foot from the pe al, the spring 7 6 serving to immediately return the plunger to its intermediate position in which it is held by the engagement of the latch 87 with recess 88. In this position, the block 23, the controller for the self starter, and the bell crank lever 15 are all returned to the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1.

position, or until the latch 87 engages the recess 89. This is the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. Now the upper arm of hell crank lever 17 will force back the plunger of the short-circuiting switch 40 to interrupt the current supply of the ignition system and the engine will stop. At the same time the projection 103 will force in button 112 and break the horn circuit between the terminals 114.

When a machine is to be left it is particularly desirable to have it impossible for unauthorized persons to start the engine or to meddle with the horn. The control plunger may be locked in its stop position by merely turning it until the recess 86 registers with the pawl 85, of the look. This pawl is spring-pressed downward so that it will immediately and automatically enter the recess 86. Then the plunger cannot be moved longitudinally because of the position of the pin 80 in the offset slots 81*.

In again starting the engine the operator inserts his key in the keyhole or slot 73 thereby releasing the latch 85. When released the spring pressed pin 90 immediately rotates the plunger until the pin 80 is in alineinent with the slot 81 after which the position of the plunger 74 may be shifted at will.

What I claim is:

1. A control pedal for automobiles comprising a casing, a plunger therein arranged to be moved longitudinally into a starting the 7 2.'A control pedal for automobiles comprising a casing, a hollow plunger therein arranged to be moved longitudinally into a starting position a stop position and an intermediate running position, a spring within the plunger, a movable abutment therefor, the spring being compressed between a part of the plunger and said abutment, a stationary member arranged to'arrest the spring abutment when theplunger is moved from its running to its starting position andto cause the s ring automatically' to move the plunger E running position.

3. A control pedal for automobiles com prising a casing, aplunger therein arranged to be moved longitudinally into a starting position, a sto position and an in termediate running osition, a spring arranged to move the p ungerautomaticall from its starting to its running position anda lock in said casing having a bolt arranged to engage the plunger when said plunger is given a partial rotation while in its stop position.

4. A control pedal for automobiles comprising'a casing, a hollow plunger therein arranged to be moved longitudinally into a f starting position, a stop position and an intermediate running position, a spring within the plunger, amovable abutment therefor, the spring being compressed between a part of the plunger and said abutment, a stationary member arranged to arrest the sprin abutment when the plunger is moved rom its running to its starting position-and to cause the spring automatically to move the plunger back to its running position, a lock in said casing having a spring pressed bolt normal to the plunger, said 'plungerbeing provided with a recess arranged to be brought into register with said bolt when the plunger is given a partial rotation while in its stop position and a spring arranged to resist such rotation and to rotate the plunger to its original position when said bolt isreleased.

5. A control pedal for automobiles com prising a casing, a hollow plunger provided with a slot having a longitudinal part and a short transverse portions at one end thereof, said plunger belng arranged to be moved longitudinally into a starting position, a stop position and an intermediate running position, a spring within the plunger, a washer forming a movable abutment therefor, the spring being compressed between a part of the plunger and said washer, a stationary pin extending through the slot for guiding the movements of the plunger and ack to its arranged to arrest the washer when the plunger is moved from its running toits starting position and to cause the spring automatically to move'the plunger back to its running position, a non-positive latch for accentuating the -running and the stop positions of the plunger, a lock in the casing having a spring pressed bolt nor.- mal to the plunger,- said plunger being provided with a recess ar-ran edto be brought into register with said bot when the plunger is given a partial rotation while in its stop position,-thetransverse portions of the slot being arranged to permit said rotation of the plunger and to prevent longitudinal displacement thereof and a spring arranged to resist such rotation and to rotate the plunger to its original position when said bolt is released.

6. In combination with an internal combustion engine and a self starter therefor, means for controllingthe starter, a distributer, a throttlehaving an adjusting arm, an ignition -switch,-a-n actuator under the control of the operator adapted to occupy a starting position, a stop position, and an intermediate runningposition an ig nitionshort circuiting switch and an inter locking connection arranged to adjust the throttle and the distributerand the control means when the actuator is in itsstarting position, and to close theshort circuiting switch when in itsstop position.

7. Incombination with aninternal combustion engine, and a Self-starter therefor, a distributor having an adjusting arm, a throttle, an ignitionswitch, a-short circuit ing switch and a starting controller com prising a relatively stationary casing, a lock with a latch or bolt adapted to extend laterally into the casing, a plunger arranged to slide in the casing and having a socket to receive the bolt or latch and means for guiding the plunger longitudinally of the body, said means-being arranged to permit a turning movement of the plunger at one end of its longitudinal movement whereby the socket may be moved into register with the bolt, said plunger being operatively connccted to the self starter mechanism, the distributer and the throttle and-adapted to adjust the ignition switch.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine anda signal horn, a starting controller, adaptedto occupy a starting position and a. stop position, a switch for interrupting the circuit of the horn and a connection arranged to actuate said switch when the controller occupies its stop p0 sition.

9. A. control pedal for automobiles comprising a casing, a push button switch, a plunger arranged to slide in the casing having a lateral projection at one end adapted to operate the push button switch, and a mooce push button switch, a plunger arranged to slide in the casing having a lateral projection at one end adapted to operate the push buttonswitch and a slot extending longitudinally of the plunger with a short lateral extension at one end, a spring tending to hold the plunger in an intermediate running position, a pin secured to the body, and .extending through the slot whereby the plunger can only be turned when at its stop position with its lateral projection in engagement with the push button and means for 35 yieldingly' op osing the turning of the plun ger' in the a oresald position, said plunger having a hole arranged to receive the bolt of the lock, when it is turned until the pin is at the end of said lateral extension.

11. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an ignition device and a signal horn, a short circuiting switch for the ignition device, a control switch for the horn, a starting controller adapted to occupy a starting and a stop position and a connection whereby the short circuiting switch and the control switch are both actuated when the starting controller occupies its stop position. 1 0 12. In combination with an internal combustion engine, a signal horn and an ignition device, a short circuiting switch for the ignition device, a control switch for the horn, a self starter mechanism and a starting controller comprising a casing, a 'lock having a bolt ada ted to extend laterally into the casing, a p unger arranged-to slide in the casing and having a guide slot extending longitudinally thereof with a short lateral extension at one end, a spring tending to hold the plunger in a predetermined intermediate position, a pin secured to the body and projecting through the slot in the plunger, said plunger being arranged to operate both the short circuiting switch and the horn control switch in one extreme position and adapted to operate the self starter mechanism in its opposite extreme position:

13. In combination with an internal combustion engine and a self starter therefor, a control lever for the starter an intake device, a priming pump connected thereto, a throttle, manually controlled means for adjusting the throttle, a distributer, manually controlled means for adjusting the distributer, an ignition switch, a short circuiting switch, a control pedal comprising a plunger operatively connected to the priming pump, the throttle and the distributor, and adapted 10 the opposite direction for closing the short circuiting switch and a lock for automatically fastening the pedal in the last named posltion.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of January in the year 15 ALDEN L. MOMURTRY. Witnesses:

RICHARD 0. SMITH, 

